By Nkechi Eze
Nigeria’s identity management system is set for a transformative leap as the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) pledged to fast-track integration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in a move that could redefine voter registration and strengthen democratic governance.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to INEC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, NIMC Director-General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, described the collaboration as a critical step toward building a unified national database that will serve both governance and electoral integrity.
She assured that the Commission is working toward expediting full data integration before the end of the year, stressing that the exercise would restore trust, enhance transparency, and align Nigeria’s systems with international best practices.
“Our focus is on integration, organization, and trust,” Coker-Odusote said. “By collaborating with INEC, we are creating a system Nigerians can rely on, not only for elections but also for access to essential services nationwide.”
According to her, the NIMC-INEC partnership will eliminate duplication, strengthen accountability, and provide citizens with a secure, verifiable identity that anchors both citizenship and voting rights. She emphasized that harmonization of identity systems is crucial for inclusivity and sustainable governance.
“This initiative is about more than elections,” she added. “It is about giving Nigerians a single, trusted identity that guarantees their rights, opens doors to services, and ensures that every citizen is counted.”
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, hailed the partnership as “historic” and “transformational,” noting that both agencies manage the country’s largest biometric databases with complementary mandates. He revealed that under the new arrangement, NIMC officials will now be stationed at INEC registration centers nationwide so that Nigerians can obtain their National Identification Number (NIN) alongside voter registration.
The initiative, which follows a successful pilot program in Anambra State from July 8 to July 20, 2025, is expected to simplify voter registration and lay the foundation for a future where Nigeria’s voter register will be drawn directly from NIMC’s citizenship database.
Yakubu expressed optimism that this integration would eventually enable citizens to vote from anywhere in the country, rather than being tied to the locations where they first registered.
